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  • 1.  Glass Plate Negatives

    Posted 04-03-2023 06:36 PM

    Greetings,

    I'm seeking the best methods for displaying glass plate negatives in a way that safely shows the images. We will be switching them out each month. Thank you!

    -Bonnie



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    Bonnie Seymour
    Registrar and Assistant Curator
    The Parthenon Museum
    Nashville TN
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  • 2.  RE: Glass Plate Negatives

    Posted 04-04-2023 09:07 AM
    Dear Bonnie - I am far from a photography expert, but the first question I would ask is what is the goal of display?  If its intent is to truly show the image (not the object), I would use a program that converts the negative safely into a positive by scanning.  Pastperfect has such a module.  Then you have the digital image and can manipulate it safely as you wish, including enlarging for display and interpretation.  Vivian





  • 3.  RE: Glass Plate Negatives

    Posted 04-05-2023 12:33 PM

    Hi Bonnie,

    My name is Thom Burns and I am the curator of the Harvard Plate Stacks collection which has over 550,000 glass plate negatives starting in the 1870s. I would be happy to connect with you and share the different display parameters we have started to move forward with. We just recently loaned some negatives for display and worked with Harvard's Weissman Preservation Center colleagues to figure out the best conditions for them.

    Email us at harvardplatestacks@cfa.harvard.edu and I will be happy to share more.

    Best,

    Thom



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    Thomas Burns
    Whitney Museum of American Art
    New York NY
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